Wayne County Election Board readies for primary

With deadlines past, 31 positions have no candidates

By TOM KANE

HONESDALE, PA - With municipal elections this year and a PA Primary on May 19, the Wayne County Board of Election’s director Cindy Furman appeared before the commissioners to explain what the bureau was doing to prepare.

“There will be 255 candidates seeking to fill local municipal positions and school boards,” Furman said. This was not a new record number, for in the past we’ve had 300 candidates, she said.

The municipal offices are township and borough supervisors, magisterial judges, tax collectors, judges of election districts, constables, auditors, inspectors of elections, mayors and school board members. Statewide positions will be limited to state judges.

Furman said that 31 municipal positions in the county still had no announced candidates. Most of these were constables, auditors and tax collectors. Since it is too late to file for the position, candidates can be elected by write-ins, she said.

The board has decided to consolidate some of the election districts in the Borough of Honesdale.

“Honesdale will go from five voting districts to three,” Furman said. The request for consolidation was approved by the County Court of Common Pleas on March 6, she said.

Honesdale One and Honesdale Three will be combined into one.

“Honesdale Three, which has been held at the Alerts Fire Hall on Route 6 near the Salvation Army store, will move to Honesdale One at the senior center on 10th Street and will be called Honesdale One,” she said. “Honesdale Two and Five, which are held at the county complex on Route 6 across from the hospital, will be combined into one district and called Honesdale Two. Honesdale Four, which is held at the chamber of commerce building on Commercial Street, will remain and be called Honesdale Three.”

“Everyone will be notified by mail of the changes in their voting location well in advance of the primary,” Furman said.

In other board business, it was announced that the position of acting warden will be filled by deputy warden Kevin Bishop. “Since we are still working on several organizational matters at the prison, the county will temporarily suspend any search for a replacement for warden,” said Vicky Lamberton, chief county clerk.